WHEAT PENNY VALUES CHART

Updated on July 11, 2013

The 1909 S VDB can be worth thousands in high grade. The "VDB: initials are located on the back of the coin, centered on the bottom. It was later removed due to the fact that citizens felt it was disrespectful. | Source

KEY DATE WHEAT PENNY VALUES

The wheat penny was an American coin designed by the U.S. Mint from 1909 to 1958. The front of the coin has a portrait of Abraham Lincoln. The back of the coin has "ONE CENT", which is surrounded by wheat stalks on each side. They are commonly called "wheaties" or "wheat backs". The coin was designed by Victor David Brenner. The wheat penny took over the design for the Indian head penny. In 1909, there were only 284,000 1909 S VDB Pennies produced. This is the cream of the crop in the series. It has a base value around $550. Even low grades are worth a hundred or more. However, if you have a prime example of this coin, it may be worth thousands. Below is a complete list of values for every wheat penny made. The 1943 copper wheat penny is not listed because it is rare. It is worth thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. The 1955 double die wheat penny is also not listed. It is also worth thousands. When it comes to the highest valued wheat pennies, these are the ones to look for.

CURRENT WHEAT PENNY VALUES 1909-1934 AS OF 7-2013

COIN

VALUE

1909

1.75

1909 S

48.44

1909 VDB

10.88

1909 S VDB

602.13

1910

0.28

1910 S

6.54

1911

0.28

1911 D

3.96

1911 S

17.02

1912

0.72

1912 D

4.39

1912 S

9.49

1913

0.41

1913 D

1.81

1913 S

4.80

1914

0.36

1914 D

127.44

1914 S

10.26

1915

1.04

1915 D

1.04

1915 S

6.67

1916

0.14

1916 D

0.40

1916 S

0.90

1917

0.14

1917 D

0.16

1917 S

0.17

1918

0.18

1918 D

0.18

1918 S

0.17

1919

0.14

1919 D

0.15

1919 S

0.16

1920

0.10

1920 D

0.11

1920 S

0.19

1921

0.18

1921 D

0.14

1921 S

0.52

1922

429.32

1922 D

8.85

1923

0.06

1923 S

1.15

1924

0.09

1924 D

20.32

1924 S

0.57

1925

0.10

1925 D

0.13

1925 S

0.28

1926

0.08

1926 D

0.11

1926 S

4.33

1927

0.08

1927 D

0.13

1927 S

0.44

1928

0.08

1928 D

0.10

1928 S

0.78

1929

0.12

1929 D

0.11

1929 S

0.12

1930

0.09

1930 D

0.12

1930 S

0.12

1931

0.34

1931 D

2.50

1931 S

55.67

1932

0.81

1932 D

0.81

1933

0.54

1933 D

1.12

1934

0.11

1934D

0.18

CURRENT WHEAT PENNY VALUES 1935-1958 AS OF 7-2013

COIN

VALUE

1935

0.15

1935 D

0.09

1935 S

0.16

1936

0.10

1936 D

0.21

1936 S

0.23

1937

0.11

1937 D

0.18

1937 S

0.23

1938

0.10

1938 D

0.19

1938 S

0.24

1939

0.15

1939 D

0.28

1939 S

0.19

1940

0.11

1940 D

0.15

1940 S

0.17

1941

0.09

1941 D

0.16

1941 S

0.16

1942

0.09

1942 D

0.09

1942 S

0.09

1943

0.21

1943 D

0.20

1943 S

0.24

1944

0.08

1944 D

0.10

1944 S

0.10

1945

0.10

1945 D

0.11

1945 S

0.11

1946

0.09

1946 D

0.10

1946 S

0.11

1947

0.09

1947 D

0.10

1947 S

0.11

1948

0.09

1948 D

0.10

1948 S

0.11

1949

0.09

1949 D

0.10

1949 S

0.11

1950

0.09

1950 D

0.09

1950 S

0.12

1951

0.07

1951 D

0.07

1951 S

0.08

1952

0.07

1952 D

0.07

1952 S

0.09

1953

0.07

1953 D

0.07

1953 S

0.09

1954

0.07

1954 D

0.07

1954 S

0.08

1955

0.07

1955 D

0.07

1955 S

0.08

1956

0.07

1956 D

0.08

1957

0.08

1957 D

0.07

1958

0.06

1958 D

0.07

WHEAT PENNY VALUES CLIMBING IN 2013

As the years go by, wheat penny values continue to climb higher. As of July 2013, we have seen a decent climb in wheat penny values. As these pennies become more rarer and hard to find, their values will only increase. We have seen the same trend with Indian Head pennies. Most Indian Head pennies are worth a dollar, even in bad shape. This is a great time to invest in wheat pennies, especially since the release of the new penny in 2010.

Over the next few years, I predict wheat penny values will only increase. I don't see them dropping in value. Even the common years of the 40s and 50s are starting to gain value. Who knows, in a decade, wheat penny values may be closer to today's values of Indian Head pennies. Hang on to your wheat pennies and if you have the opportunity, invest in them!

This is a picture of the 1955 double die wheat penny. You can clearly see the doubling in "LIBERTY", "IN GOD WE TRUST", and the date. It is worth thousands. | Source

The 1922 wheat penny is very valuable. That is the one without a mint mark. However, make sure the mint mark is not worn off. Many people have tried to pass these off by taking off the mint mark. It is valued around $420. | Source

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Comments 43 comments

Hi TLW, I don't suppose the wheat pennies have ever made their way over to the UK, but I will keep a look out just in case!!!

Interesting hub, I enjoyed it thank you for sharing and voting up, best wishes MM

Mentalist acer 5 years ago from A Voice in your Mind!

It Seems(Really) A Penny Saved Can Be More Than A Penny Earned...Interesting Lyric Writer.;)

SusieQ42 5 years ago

Oh, to find a wheat penny! An old one, that is...Thanks for the info. Voted up and interesting.

randomcreative 5 years ago from Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Thank you for this great reference!

thelyricwriter 5 years ago from West Virginia Author

MM, thanks for coming by. I have seen a few coins from the UK here, so it may be possible. I am beginning to research coins from the UK so I can post them. That way it will be much useful for you.

thelyricwriter 5 years ago from West Virginia Author

MM, thanks for coming by. I have seen a few coins from the UK here, so it may be possible. I am beginning to research coins from the UK so I can post them. That way it will be much useful for you.

thelyricwriter 5 years ago from West Virginia Author

Mentalist, so true. You wouldn't think so, but I would trade a penny for hundreds anyday. I would trade it for two cents!:) It is interesting to see how much they are worth. Thanks for coming by.

thelyricwriter 5 years ago from West Virginia Author

SusieQ, thank you for your vote and comment, as well as your time my dear. I hear ya loud and clear.

thelyricwriter 5 years ago from West Virginia Author

RC, you are very welcome. Thank you for coming by to see it.

Gypsy Rose Lee 5 years ago from Riga, Latvia

Thanks for the very valuable information. I have some of these pennies saved up will have to take a look if there are any of the valuable one. Great hub!

thelyricwriter 5 years ago from West Virginia Author

You are very welcome Gypsy. Hopefully you will be able to find some that are very valuable! Thanks for everything Gypsy. See ya soon.

homesteadbound 5 years ago from Texas

Now you have inspired me to take a look at my old coins and see what I have. Great information.

thelyricwriter 5 years ago from West Virginia Author

Homesteadbound, I am glad that you are inspired. That is great. I hope you find yourself a beauty!

Peggy W 5 years ago from Houston, Texas

Coin collecting can be a fun and also profitable business if one lucks out and finds those valuable coins still in circulation. Thanks for the current valuation of the wheat pennies. Useful information!

thelyricwriter 5 years ago from West Virginia Author

Hey Peggy. Thanks for coming by. I really do appreciate your comments and time. I have did my fair share but only a few common wheat pennies after about 10,000. I am glad with what I found though. It is something I enjoy.

Sueswan 5 years ago

Very interesting. The oldest penny I had was from 1959, the year I was born. I don't know what kind of penny as I lost it.

thelyricwriter 5 years ago from West Virginia Author

That was actually the first memorial cent. The wheat penny ended in 1958. There has been a few cases that the 1959 has the wheat tail back. This coin is very valuable, worth tens of thousands of dollars. Thanks for the comment.

TheHoleStory 4 years ago from Parsons, West Virginia

I've always been a big wheat back penny fan, and I'll use your chart as a reference for some time. You did miss one though, not that a lot of people have a chance of finding one. There were a little over a dozen genuine 1943 copper cents produced by accident, and the specimens from the San Francisco Mint are the rarest of them all. I seen the value for these coins on the internet at over $70,000 dollars. It's hard to believe that one little penny could be worth so much!

thelyricwriter 4 years ago from West Virginia Author

THS, thanks for taking the time to drop by. Yes, you are correct. The 1943 copper penny is a gem, a very rare one though. I have known 2 that went over 100,000, unbelievable.

yoyo 4 years ago

Keep in mind the value of copper scrap. Today a pre 1982 pennie is worth over three times face value, this does not seem to be taken into consideration in the aboved chart.

thelyricwriter 4 years ago from West Virginia Author

Yoyo, thanks for stopping by and for the comment. This article was just on wheat backs, but your absolutely right. People have already begun to hoard them. I see less and less of them in circulation these days. And with this economy, rightfully so.

lorddraven2000 3 years ago from Wheelwright KY

Awesome hub. Now I can value my collection.

Shyron E Shenko 3 years ago

Thanks for the chart Lyric Writer. I no longer collect coins. I had a bank full of silver dollars and had a breakin and they were stolen. I did not start collecting again. Voted-up and interesting and shared.

lifelovemystery 3 years ago from Houston, TX

I have about a dozen wheat pennies - hardly a collection, but I've always been fascinated with them. I look forward to pulling them out and finding out their value. This is a great Hub!

thelyricwriter 3 years ago from West Virginia Author

@Lorddraven2000, thanks for the comment. Hope you found it to be useful:)

@Shyron, thanks for the visit. Oh no, that's awful. I truly hate to hear that. Silver dollars are worth good money today, even with the price drop of silver. I don't blame you for not collecting, I've had similar issues. Not worth losing them again. Thanks again for the votes and shares, best wishes.

@Lifelovemystery, thanks for the comment:) Absolutely! I ended up selling all mine on Ebay. I found most of mine in penny rolls. If they are banked wrapped, you usually find one in a roll or two. Just cost a little bit of time. Since the U.S. Mint created the new penny design, wheat penny values have went up.

Milan T 3 years ago

Oldest one I found was 1935 with no mint mark.

thelyricwriter 3 years ago from West Virginia Author

Milan T, thanks for taking the time to comment. Since the new penny was designed, we're seeing an increase in values of the wheat penny and older pennies. Nearly 80 years old, not bad! I believe the oldest one that I found was 1910, I bought a 1826 Large Cent once, but sold it later. Appreciate the share, best to you.

Eida 2 years ago

I don't understand nothing plz help me

thelyricwriter 2 years ago from West Virginia Author

Hello Elda. Thanks for visiting my page. What can I help you with? I'd be glad to help in any way that I can.

penny lewis 2 years ago

i have a lot of wheat pennies. wheat pennies

are a great addition to your collection.

matt 2 years ago

I have a 1915 as my oldest bust my more uncommon ones is a 1926 no mint silver in color wheat head penny any ideas about why it's silver in color and a value estimate it got great detail and some copper tone to it as well

Shanise 2 years ago

I just found a 1919,1930,1938,1941,1942,1944,1945,1946,& 1957 wheat pennies in my wallet how random is that I don't even know what to do with them!

thelyricwriter 2 years ago from West Virginia Author

*Matt, thanks for the comment. Old pennies can very in color ranges, depending on the outside elements. 1926 wheat pennies should be all copper. Steel pennies were only made in 1943, they have a silver looking coat. As for 1926, none were made. It is rare but perhaps you have a one-of-a-kind. If you can take a picture of it, send it to my email haleassociations@gmail.com I'll take a look at it and tell you what I see. Please take a picture of the front, back and rim, detailed as possible.

thelyricwriter 2 years ago from West Virginia Author

*Shanise, thanks for the comment. These are more common dates but quite the find. It may be a good time to start saving them. With the new pennies out, wheat pennies should continue to climb. For selling coins, Ebay is always great. You don't have a lot of value here but a cool little hoard to say the least.

Jake Rees 2 years ago

Oldest one I've found was a 1922 D penny! I was so exicited when I found it. Though other recent sources says it's worth 2100 times what it was released for!

thelyricwriter 2 years ago from West Virginia Author

Awesome find Jake!! Yes, that is a great find indeed. Even in rough condition, the 1922-D wheat penny is a gem. Thanks for taking the time to comment and share your story!!

susan roberts 2 years ago

I have a few and wanted to sell them. where could i sell them all at once. I had them since my husband died and dont want to keep them anymore. If I could get a number to a coin dealer who might want them that would be nice.

thelyricwriter 2 years ago from West Virginia Author

I always go to Ebay Susan. I would do a Google search for local coin dealers, you're likely to someone that would take them.